Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre

Building changemakers and catalyzing potential

At the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Center, we believe everyone has the potential for creative problem-solving to address pressing issues facing people in our society. Our mission is to catalyze this potential, developing entrepreneurial mindsets and fostering a culture of innovation across Queen’s University and the Kingston community. We build changemakers by encouraging and supporting their entrepreneurial initiatives through incubators, workshops, programs, courses, and pitch competitions.

Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative

QYourVenture

The Foundry

Regional Pitch Competition Series

Konnect

Global Network

Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative

The Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) is a 16-week program where budding founders receive no-cost training, mentorship, seed funding, and office space to launch their own venture.

QYourVenture

QyourVenture is a year-round program helping students and community members turn their idea, technology, or inspiration into a venture. Participants unlock opportunities and resources as they make progress in building their venture.

The Foundry

The Foundry program provides the opportunity for Queen’s University students to build a business from ideas and intellectual property developed by researchers at Queen’s University.

Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative

The Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) is a 16-week program where budding founders receive no-cost training, mentorship, seed funding, and office space to launch their own ventures.

QYour Venture

QyourVenture is a year-round program helping students and community members turn their idea, technology, or inspiration into a venture. Participants unlock opportunities and resources as they make progress in building their venture.

The Foundry​

The Foundry program provides the opportunity for Queen’s University students to build a business from ideas and intellectual property developed by researchers at Queen's University.

Regional Pitch Competition Series​

Founders have the opportunity to pitch to gain valuable feedback from expert judges while
competing for non-dilutive seed funding to propel their venture.

Regional Pitch Competition Series

Konnect

Konnect provides a supportive network along with personal and professional development to
amplify the success of self-identifying women in building their own venture or advancing
professionally after graduation.

Konnect

Global Network​

Leveraging the existing Queen’s alumni network, the Global Network is comprised of innovation
nodes in seven cities around the world. Young founders can be connected to entrepreneurial
alumni in these cities to receive mentorship, support, and connections to global markets.

Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre

Our People

Greg Bavington

Executive Director

James McLellan

Academic Director

Melanie Robb

Program Manager

Katie Creasy

Administrative and Financial Coordinator

Joanna Tinus

Program Coordinator

Chloe Beisheim

Program Coordinator

The Deshpande Foundation, founded by Jaishree and Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande, has supported sustainable, scalable social and economic impact through innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States, Canada, and India.

Contact

The Deshpande Foundation, founded by Jaishree and Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande, has supported sustainable, scalable social and economic impact through innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States, Canada, and India.